Rework of the POI searchability – November 2011

Over the last few weeks I spent a lot of time (about 130 hours total) on reworking the whole Points of Interest (POI -- all points in the map) framework. I did this because I noticed that some points were not found on the newer garmin devices like before.

For some it might be known, but most will not know that Garmin uses a rather complicated system to determine what point can be found at which place on the GPS/Mapsource and also determine the maximum resolution at which it is shown. This system is based on a rather random system of FFFFF points. Only a few of those are however usable and searchable. Hence it took me a long time to tryout to analyse and tryout about 2000 (hex) of them to find out which ones have which properties.

Already over the last two weeks I had started to update this system, for this Thursday's updates the rework is finished. I will write an article today that shows the structure about what you can find via the search function.

Do note that this also depends on other maps. There are some maps like Nop's Reit & Wanderkarte, but also others (all that use the poi search to find addresses) that will however completely havoc the POI search (also if map is deactivated). Also some maps could clutter certain search categories. On some devices like etrex 30 you can decide which map to choose for the POI search, but this doesn't really work - so best don't use to many maps on your GPS if you want to have reliable results (openmtbmap/velomap plus city navigator maps works very fine).

Due to the rework and using newer types, I managed to reduce the POI that are in the map also by about 10% (resulting in about 1% overall smaller maps) - which should mean a little speed boost (this is because I want to show different symbols for some POI that are found in the same category, due to the rework I could reduce the amount of POI which are twice in the map - with one entry for searching, and another one for displaying them).

For everyone using adapted .typ-files, you will of course need to update them (easiest simply copy over the whole poi section via text editor).

feel free to add comments if there is some stuff in OSM that would be needed for tourism/recreation cycling/mtbiking that is not yet findable or if you have ideas on what should be findable under categories like tides or currents.

Also because it sometimes happens: If you donate money via bank tranfer but do not indicate an email to me, please send me an email telling me your name/donation so that I can create an account for you. I have no chance to contact you without email....

With this work finished I will refocus on working on an online map which I hope to get online mid of December.

And last of all, I updated openmtbmap Europe yesterday and the Velomap Europe is right now rendered. Tomorrow I'll run normal map updates again.